HONG KONG.- We are only halfway through January of 2016 and already Spink is inaugurating the first month of its 350th year by smashing records and raising the bar in Asian auctions starring Meiso Mizuhara, The Exhibition Collection, Chinese Customs Post on Sunday 17th.

The Asian philatelic event of the decade by achieving the record of the highest grossing stamps auction ever in Asia at HK$83,500,000.
The Mizuhara collection proved to be a new watershed for stamp auctioning in Asia by being not only the largest stamp auction held in Hong Kong or even China ever, but for the entirety of Asia. It was also the largest single vendor auction; the previous record was over 20 years ago over seven catalogues and several years. The results of this auction add further dignity to an already great philatelic collector and stand as a firm testament of success for a lifetime dedicated to Chinese philately. Despite the challenging environment in Chinese financial markets, the auction broke many world records in a one single vendor auction.

Mizuhara’s fantastic array of essays, die proofs and exquisite rarities captured the heart and soul of the auction room achieving an incredible world record for a stamp essay of any country. This honour was awarded to lot 1515: the unique pair of essays concentrating on honing the Large Dragon design, setting the world record breaking price of HK$4,800,000 for an essay of any country.

The dragon proved to be a very lucky motif for Spink and lot 1516, the Elephant essay sold at an incredible price for HK$3,000,000.

A mere 6 lots later, another record was smashed; Lot 1522 proved to be a World record for a die proof of any country, realising HK$2,040,000.

Two of the legendary rarities, “The small dollar” where sold in separate lots; Lot 1719 going under the hammer at a HK$4,320,000. Following this fantastic item came Lot 1720 achieving a World record for China’s most iconic stamp: the famous “small dollar of 1897” which realised HK$6,240.000.

Apart from these bright shiners there were many excellent results in this auction, affirming Spink’s place at the head of philatelic auctions in Asia; sourcing quality material of the highest caliber for collectors world-wide. After a very intense and very strong battle between several room bidders; Lot 1682, The United States Post office cover, was sold for almost quadruple its estimate at HK$5,760,000.

Spink has set a new tone and was part of this magnificent event in Chinese philately. Spectacular results were achieved as an effect of such an important collection from one of the great collectors – Meiso Mizuhara.

Solid results across other collectables categories take the overall total over HK$100,000,000
On Friday 15th evening Spink kicked off with the the Fine Whiskey, Cognac and other Spirits sale. The entire event was prefaced by an auction of some of the world’s finest liquor and saw the sale of the First Official Organic Whisky Cask, a Springbank 1992, sold at HK$683,200. Spink is now firmly established as the leading auction house in Asia for selling casks of whisky and rum, having sold more casks than any other auction house.

Following this delightful evening auction organizers woke up on Saturday to their Numismatic auction of Banknotes, Bonds & Share Certificates and Coins of China and Hong Kong must be mentioned as an event full of rarities. For the first time ever, a complete set of 1912 specimen notes from The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was offered at auction. The Bank issued the pictorial series from 1912 in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. The $5 and $10 were printed until 1941 but the $25 was only a one year issue (1912), the $50 until 1930 and the $100 until 1960. The iconic $25 performed extremely well and the total set sold for HK$921,600.

The sale included some very interesting Chinese coins and Bonds. For the coin section it was Lot 115, one of the top lots; the fine and rare silver $1 Coin that sold above its high estimate at HK$33,600.

Spink had a solid and short section of Bonds and Shares as part of the Numismatic sale where Lot 318, The Szhechuan Hanzhong Railway Company Limited, a very fine and scare item comprising 5 shares of 5 taels, remainder sold at HK$12,000.

A World Breaking philatelic auction and two sales packed with the fine collectable material was not enough for Spink HK. In the afternoon session of the 17th, Spink put on another auction to delight and thrill the shrewdest collectors achieving once again, very solid results:

Lot 1269 achieved a fantastic result. It was a Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, $50 cancelled issued note from 1898. A true rarity in superb condition for its type and very likely a completely unique offering and appropriately realizing: $504,000.